Motorcycle dealership hosts biker beach party

OCEANSIDE -- Hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over
the county rode into Oceanside on Sunday afternoon for the seventh
annual Biker Beach Party at the Biggs Harley-Davidson & Buell
dealership on Coast Highway.

The event featured live music, free food and drinks, vendors
selling an assortment of clothing, leather goods, helmets and other
accessories, raffles, a bike contest and a bikini contest. The
dealership also previewed its selection of 2007 bikes, offered deep
discounts on its remaining 2006 bikes and offered 12-mile test
rides down the coast.

"It's to thank customers for being with us," said John Baroni,
sales manager of the Oceanside dealership.

Baroni said the beach party is one of several events the
motorcycle dealership sponsors at its Oceanside and San Marcos
locations each year for past, present and prospective
customers.

"We do several events a year," said Baroni, who said a battle of
the bands at their San Marcos dealership last month attracted more
than 1,500 people.

Baroni said more than 500 people were expected to attend this
year's beach party, which was free of charge and open to people of
all ages.

"There's never any alcohol at any of our events," Baroni
said.

Jim Lillibridge, administration manager of the San Marcos Biggs
dealership, said the purpose of Sunday's event was "to hear good
music, have fun and to give people a destination."

Many attendees said they came to beat the sweltering heat.

"It's just so hot inland," said Chris Plummer, who stood in the
shade with her friend, Tina Scott, eating a free burrito from Baja
Fresh and listening to the surf music being played by The Fabulous
Woodies.

Plummer and Scott rode up to the beach party from La Mesa with a
group of about 40 members of the Motorcycle Singles Club.

"It's fun to people watch and see the bikes," said Plummer, who
came to the event last year. "We run into people we know, and the
band is always fun."

Out in front of the dealership, dozens of people, many clad in
Harley-Davidson attire, admired each other's bikes and voted on the
entrants in the bike contest. Others, like Dennis McKaskle, went
inside to seek shade and check out the new bikes.

"We wanted to see the unveiling of the '07s," said McKaskle, who
rode over from Escondido with a friend.

McKaskle said he bought his bike from the Biggs dealership in
San Marcos and comes to the beach party every year.

"It's fun," he said. "I'm just walking around a little bit,
watching the girls and trying to stay out of the sun."

In the back of the parking lot, Marines Wes Hunt and Harold
Franco stood in the shade near the Philly Frank's Steaks booth,
trying to find some respite from the blazing sun. When asked what
brought them to the event, both Marines answered in unison: "The
bikini contest!"

"And the food, and all the other Marines," said Hunt, a Camp
Pendleton Marine.

"The camaraderie," said Franco, who is stationed at MCRD.

Both Marines said they weren't in the market for new
motorcycles, but they still planned to check out the 2007
bikes.

"I'm happy with the one I've got, but you've always got to look
at the new ones," said Franco.

Despite the hot temperatures, the Marines said they planned on
staying all afternoon.